Sablefish farm seeks freedom to pump effluent into ocean,
not land

Gulf Islands Driftwood, Wednesday, November
15, 2006

By Stacy Cardigan Smith

Sablefin Hatcheries Ltd. has applied to the
provincial environment ministry to change the way it discharges
hatchery effluent from its on-land Walker Hook sablefish farm.
Sablefin, established in 2002 amid much local controversy,
hatches black cod (sablefish) fry and sells them to other
fish farms. The company was originally criticized for discharging
its effluent into wells in a midden and gravesite area used
by the Penelakut tribe for thousands of years on the Walker
Hook tombolo.

An environmental protection (EP) notice published in the
November 1 Driftwood states Sablefin’s intention to
amend the permit that “authorizes the discharge of effluent
to ground from a land-based marine fish hatchery . . . . This
amendment requests that the following conditions be changed
from discharge to land to discharge to ocean in Trincomali
Channel one kilometre from shoreline.”

In an e-mail response to Driftwood questions last week, Sablefin
representative Nancy Dixon wrote: “Our reasons for proceeding
with an outfall revolve around our desire to continue good
relations with First Nations and the Penelakut Elders and
Tribe. It is our hope that our efforts to amend our existing
permit will allow relations to grow and heal with the Penelakut
and the community on Salt Spring.”

Sablefin declined a telephone interview and re-scheduled
an in-person interview last week in order to allow sufficient
time to contact the Penelakut Tribe and Hul'qumi'num Treaty
Group (HTG), of which Penelakut is a member. HTG representative
Eric McLay had not received any information from Sablefin
last week, nor had Penelakut chief Lisa Shaver. Shaver did
not respond to further Driftwood e-mail questions by press
time.

“The new outfall pipe will be connected to the hatchery
with a new upland pipe, thus avoiding the tombolo completely,”
said Dixon, adding that hatchery production will not change
as a result.

But Salt Spring Island Residents for Responsible Land Use
member Sharon Bywater believes Sablefin has ulterior motives
for the move. “Sablefin’s decision to go to the
outfall is a purely business decision . . . . if they were
wanting to improve their relations with First Nations, they
would have moved years ago,” said Bywater last week.
“I also wonder if the injection wells are proving to
be problematic,” she added.

In 2005, the B.C. Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management
denied Sablefin the ability to construct four additional wells
for discharge purposes because the archeological site is of
cultural significance to First Nations.

Before the permit is amended, Sablefin will likely have to
undergo an Environmental Assessment through the Canadian Environmental
Assessment Agency, said Kirsten White, environmental protection
officer with the B.C. Ministry of Environment (MOE). An assessment
will determine if any habitat will be destroyed or harmed
due to the change, said White. In addition, the Department
of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Health Canada, the Ministry
of Agriculture and Lands, local municipalities and districts,
First Nations peoples and the public may also have the opportunity
to speak out. DFO reps did not return calls by press time
to clarify DFO’s role.

Currently, Sablefin must undergo quarterly effluent testing,
said White, and effluent must meet MOE parameters. Tests look
at a number of factors, including the temperature, salinity
and ammonia content of the effluent, and will not change if
the permit is amended.

“Hatchery effluent is of such quality that it can be
discharged to ocean without having any impact on the environment,”
said Dixon. “The hatchery’s effluent is well below
the limits set out in the government guidelines and restrictions
outlined in Sablefin’s existing permit. In fact, the
hatchery’s effluent is generally cleaner than samples
of ocean water taken in the vicinity of Walker Hook. We have
conducted extensive monitoring over the past three years and
are confident that there will be no effect on the beach environment
and adjacent marine environments.” Dixon said further
information is available by contacting Sablefin at 537-4161
or sablefin@telus.net.

The public has until November 30 to respond to the EP notice.
Written comments and concerns can be sent to Sablefin Hatcheries
Ltd. at 335 Walker's Hook Road, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K
1N7, with a copy sent to the Regional Manager, Environmental
Protection at 2080A Labieux Road, Nanaimo, B.C., V9T 6J9.